There are so many redeeming things about Advent. (Forgive the pun please! Argh, there I go again!) Much of which is contained in the rich teaching of the carols. I will share my favorites, the creme de la creme of carol writ.
1. Joy to the World. NOT a Christmas song! Sorry about that friends. Isaac Watts' church did not observe the Christmas holiday. This powerful song is indicative of the second coming of Christ. Please note carefully the words and rejoice with me in the anticipation His coming, not as a lamb, but as a lion.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love
And wonders, and wonders of His love
2. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. Well, we are not sure angels sing, but it's a nice notion. After all, Gabriel does blow a mean trumpet. The chocked-full-of-doctrine verse follows...
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Immanuel
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Immanuel
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Immanuel
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Immanuel
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
5. Adestes Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful)
6. O Holy Night
Do I like any of the Christmas fluff stuff? A partial list: Silver Bells; I'll be Home For Christmas; I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas (written, ironically by Jewish Irving Berlin); Tender Tennessee Christmas; Colorado Christmas; Mariah's songs back when she could still sing.
Well, that's 9 minutes of your life you'll never have back, but thanks for reading and Feliz Navidad!
